A: Boseiju's ability only makes a spell uncounterable if you use the mana to cast a spell, and suspending isn't casting. You will eventually cast the spell when the last time counter comes off, but at that point you're casting it without paying its mana cost. So you're not spending any mana to cast it, let alone mana from Boseiju, and it won't get the uncounterable bonus.==

i'm confused because the article says that Boseiju only helps if you use its mana to /cast/ a spell; but the oracle wording says "If that mana is spent on an instant or sorcery spell" instead of something like "If that mana is used to cast an instant or sorcery spell." In addition, there are rulings on the gatherer page that make it sound like Boseiju helps when using mana on an instant or sorcery spell in ways other than casting it:

==The spell can't be countered if the mana produced by Boseiju is spent to cover any cost of the spell, even an additional cost such as a splice cost. This is true even if you pay an additional cost while casting a spell "without paying its mana cost."==

is the cranial insertion article correct in its answer? if so, could someone help me understand why, given the points i brought up? thanks.

Suspend is a collection of abilities. If you spent the mana on suspend, you spent the mana on an ability of a card, not a spell. No spell exists until you cast the card when you remove the last counter.

702.60a Suspend is a keyword that represents three abilities. The first is a static ability that functions while the card with suspend is in a player’s hand. The second and third are triggered abilities that function in the exile zone. “Suspend N—[cost]” means “If you could begin to cast this card by putting it onto the stack from your hand, you may pay [cost] and exile it with N time counters on it. This action doesn’t use the stack,” and “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this card is suspended, remove a time counter from it,” and “When the last time counter is removed from this card, if it’s exiled, play it without paying its mana cost if able. If you can’t, it remains exiled. If you cast a creature spell this way, it gains haste until you lose control of the spell or the permanent it becomes.”

As far as I know, the only way to spend mana on a spell is to spend it on casting the spell. Additional costs are payed to cast a spell. To cast, total cost = mana cost or alternative cost + additional costs and cost increases - cost reductions.

ikegami said:==As far as I know, the only way to spend mana on a spell is to spend it on casting the spell. Additional costs are payed to cast a spell. To cast, total cost = mana cost or alternative cost + additional costs and cost increases - cost reductions.==

this clears it up for me, i think. the distinction between casting a *spell* and using an ability of a *card* is something i'm now more aware of!

ALTHOUGH, it brings up another question. i know that Lightning Storm is a really weird card in that it has an ability that can only be activated when it's a spell on the stack. suppose there is a card that increases the cost of activated abilities (such as suppression field).` so now i can pay 2 mana and discard a card to activate the activated ability of the Lightning Storm spell. if i used boseiju mana to do this, does it then become uncounterable (ie because i am using the mana on an activated ability belonging to a *spell*)?

so now i can pay 2 mana and discard a card to activate the activated ability of the Lightning Storm spell. if i used boseiju mana to do this, does it then become uncounterable (ie because i am using the mana on an activated ability belonging to a *spell*)?

ALTHOUGH, it brings up another question, but i'll need help to properly convolute it. i know that Lightning Storm is a really weird card in that it has an ability that can only be activated when it's a spell on the stack. suppose there is a card that increases the cost of activated abilities (such as suppression field).` so now i can pay 2 mana and discard a card to activate the activated ability of the Lightning Storm spell. if i used boseiju mana to do this, does it then become uncounterable (ie because i am using the mana on an activated ability belonging to a *spell*)?

that too? i was asking if he's sure that boseiju doesn't cover this situation of making Lightning Storm uncounterable in this way (ie if he's not sure then maybe others might chime in on their opinions, and if he is sure could he back it up with some Comp Rules so i can delight in exploring another nuance of the rules), but i also have irrationally strong interest whenever the Magic Rules Machine might have a hole in it, too, so the answer to "are you sure there's no clear answer?" interests me, too.

The spell can't be countered if the mana produced by Boseiju is spent to cover any cost of the spell, even an additional cost such as a splice cost. This is true even if you pay an additional cost while casting a spell "without paying its mana cost."

an activated ability of a spell is not part of the cost of that spell

I'd argue that Boseiju only applies if you spend mana on the "total cost", activated abilities are not part of that

that too? i was asking if he's sure that boseiju doesn't cover this situation of making Lightning Storm uncounterable in this way (ie if he's not sure then maybe others might chime in on their opinions, and if he is sure could he back it up with some Comp Rules so i can delight in exploring another nuance of the rules), but i also have irrationally strong interest whenever the Magic Rules Machine might have a hole in it, too, so the answer to "are you sure there's no clear answer?" interests me, too.

Yes, I misread your post. I have deleted mine.

Sorry we had to increase taxes: my limo needs new tires. (eh! they were at least two weeks old)